BBC Persian-Language Service Sets Launch Date

LONDON, January 8: On
January 14, BBC World Service is set to launch its news and information channel
for Persian-language speakers in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and elsewhere
around the world.

BBC Persian TV is intended
to reach consumers on a variety of platforms: radio, television, the Internet,
mobile phones and handheld computers. Broadcast from the BBC studios in London,
BBC Persian TV will be available for eight hours a day, seven days a week, from
5 p.m. Tehran time. It will be accessible to anyone with a satellite dish or cable
connection in the region, via Hotbird and Telstar satellites. It will also be
streamed live online on bbcpersian.com.

In addition to news and
information, it will feature several original factual programs, such as a
weekly youth show, as well as strands on music, arts and culture, science and
technology and sport. A documentary showcase will highlight the best Iranian,
Afghani and Tajik documentary making. The rollout follows last year's launch of
BBC Arabic.

"The launch of BBC
Persian TV is an event of major importance for the BBC and for audiences in the
region," said Nigel Chapman, the director of BBC World Service.
"Using the power of television, it will bring 'the world to its viewers',
and thus meet the needs of audiences who tell us that they want more access to
the BBC's high-quality news and information services. We want this BBC channel
to set new standards in Persian-language television broadcasting. BBC Persian
TV builds on our distinguished history of broadcasting in Persian and brings the
best of the BBC's news and documentary programs to audiences."

—By Mansha Daswani